Suction apparatus



July 6, 1954 D. M. PAxTQN sucTIoN APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 27, 1951 INVENTOR. y en/@MP n orly -Jly 6, 1954 D. M. PAxToN SUCTIoN APPARATUS 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed Jah. 27, 1951 A INVENTozL l egay/lffaxon mw :N mw mw Patented July 6, 1 954 y UNITED STATES "TENT oF'FvIc/E' Dewey M. Paxton',lhoenix, Ariz.,assignor to Alfred Sullivan Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,138

My inventionrelates to and has for its purposethe provision of suction apparatus particularly adapted, although not necessarily, for quickly removing the dirtyoi'l and sediment from the crankcaseof motor vehicle engines incident to an oil change, and in such manner as tor eliminate zthe necessity of jacking up the'vehicle to drain the oil from' the crankcase as is now the present practice.

This manner 'of removing the oil and the accompany-ing sediment is achieved in my apparatus by producing in a receptacle which is Dortable, a high vacuum' through an extraneous means thatcan bedetached from the receptacle and the vacuum maintained therein to be used in withdrawing the oil from a-crankcase by a mere connection of `the receptacle therewith 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-205) through the oil gauge rod receiving opening in A the crankcase. w

Since the vacuum receptacle is portable, it can be ,brought'to the motor vehicle 4to-periorm the oil removing operation, and, of course, without jacking upv-the vehicle. This is extremely advantageous inpromoting the sale of oil-at a service station because it permits they oil` changing operation to be performed with dispatch and whilethe gasoline` tank of the motor-vehicle is being filled with gasoline from the pump. f Etuis alsoa purpose of my invention :to provide-inasuction-apparatus of the character above described vag-novvel,form of vacuum producing tdevice which; vivlflilecapable of being manufactured ati-ia relatively low cost since the parts thereof may be made with*large-tolerances, is @operable td producean,- extremely high vacuum through theillSewOfair at relatively low pressures such as that used-inthe inflation of vpneumatic tires.

-In the adaptation of this deviceto my apparatus one is enabled .to quickly yattain' a high vacuum in the apparatus receptacle, to beused as-:frequired not only to withdraw loil from the crankcase but for any other purpose where a vacuumr4 can be employed, and particularly in association with a motorfvehicle. It can be used forremoving grease from the transmission and diflerential housings, the loil from iiuid clutches andoil ltermcasesi and ythe gasoline and sedimentfromgasolinetanks.

Incident to-such,uses, Vwhatever liquid is rempvedds,delivered-tothe receptacle without loss so that, in the caseof lubricating oil, it can be shipped/to` affrenery for're-rening thereof.

- Lw-ill describeonly, one form of suction apparatuavinludineoneform .of vacuum producing device, ,each embodying my invention.- and will then point out the vnovel features in claims,

In the'accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View showing in perspective one form of suction apparatus embodying my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a View showing schematically and partly in section the apparatus of Fig. 1 without the vehicle thereof. f y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the check valve shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenon the line 4 4' of Fig. 3.

The apparatus of my invention .in `the main comprises a vehicle generally designated at V and on which .are supported. a receptacle R, a vacuum producing device D, and their .appurtenances. Thus the completenapparatus is rendered portable so that it may be readily moved from place to place and without trailing hoses or electric cords, a very important advantage in its use at a service station. v

,As best shown in Fig. 2, the-receptacle R comprises a glass bottle, preferably of a size to holdl five gallons of` liquid. Within the neck of the bottle is a stopper l5 and through which extends a rigid outlet tube Ylli anda rigid outlet tube Il which is longer than the tube I5 solas to project below the latter so that liquid enteringthereceptacle through the .tube I6 will not be drawn.

out of the receptaclethrough the tube Il. 'Al flexible pipe I3 is connected at one end tothe tube i6, and at the other to a metal tting I9 threadedly connected to one end ofa metal suction nozzle 2Q. Ahead of the fitting I9 the pipe I8 carries a conventional manuallyV operated valve 2l for pinching the pipe to close the same and prevent uid from passing therethrough.

The nozzle 2t may bev of any length suitable for the particular purpose for which it is to be used. As it is in the present case adapted to be used for withdrawing used oil from the crankcase 22 of an engine 23, it isof such length that it can be extended to the bottom of the crankcase through an oil gauge opening 2i thereof. Adjacent its lower end the nozzle 2li is provided in its side withone or more ports 25, the nozzle end itself being closed. To the outer end of the tube Il Vis connected a ilexible pipe 26 which leads to one end of a pipe T 2i.- Also connected tothe middle of the T `is a conventional vacuum gauge 28, while connected to the other end'is a iexible pipe 29 which leads toa casing 3D vfor a check valve C: From the other end -ofthe casing extendsa lexible'pipe'Z that is connected through a metal tting 33 to a body Bil of the deviceD.

The check valve C is of conventional construction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and it comprises a disk 35 movable in a cage 36 to open and close a port 31 in a member 38 secured in the casing 36. As will be seen in Fig. 2 the disk valve 35 is operable to permit air to be drawn from the receptacle R by the device D but to prevent air from entering the receptacle through the pipe 26.

The vacuum producing device D of my invention is designed Withtwo purposes in mind. One is to construct the device at a minimum cost by eliminating the necessity of making its partsV with close tolerances, and the other is that the device by the use of air at relatively low pressure such as the pressure range employed to innate pneumatic vehicle tires, can rapidly produce a very high vacuum in the receptacle R.. In practice the device produces a 23 inch vacuum with an air pressure of approximately 40 lbs.

This device D in the present instance, comprises the elongated body 34 formed at one end with a conical head 40 adjacent which is a reduced portion 4| having screw-threaded thereon a second head 42 with shims 43 between the two. The head 42 is provided on its inner side with a conical socket or cavity 44 in which the head 46 is received so as to form between the two a chamber 45. The outer side of the head 42ris formed with a discharge nozzle 46 communicating with the apex of the socket 44.

The other end of the body 34 lhas screwthreaded thereon a cap 41 containing a gasket 48 for sealing the stem 49 of a valve 50 where it extends through the cap against the escape of air. The outer end of the stem is provided with a handle I for turning the valve 50 to eiect an axial adjustment thereof in a passage 52 in the body. To this end the valve has a portion 53 screw-threaded in the body.

The valve 52 is of the needle type in that it is tapered to extend into a tapered and elongated seat 54 which at one end communicates with the passage 56 and at the other end with a duct 55 which leads axially to the apex of the head 40. A lateral duct 56 leads to the passage 52 from a bored tting 51 threaded in the body 34, and at its outer end is provided with a tapered nozzle 58 for the reception of a tapered rubber cap 59 on the end of a flexible pipe 60.

The pipe 66 is adapted `for detachable connection with any source of uid pressure, and

since my apparatus is designed primarily for use in connection with the parts of a motor vehicle when in a service station or otherwise, the pipe is adapted for detachable connection to the outlet nozzle 6| of a conventional valve 62 for an air hose 63 employed to inflate the tires of motor vehicles.

The body 34 is also formed with a second lateral duct 64 which leads to one end of a longitudinal duct 65. The latter duct 65 parallels the duct 55 and extends through the body at the base of the head 4I to communicatev with the chamber 45. The body 34 is tapped and threaded at the duct 64 to receive the tting 33 and place the pipe 32 in communication with the duct.

In the operation of the device D, air, under pressure as supplied to the pipe 60 from the air hose 63 or any other source, is delivered to the passage 52 through the duct 56 and thence to the duct 55 to be discharged into the chamber 45 and finally to atmosphere through the nozzle 46. As the air enters the duct 55 from the passage provided by the seat 54, the duct 55 being of smaller diameter restricts air flow there- 4 through and thus provides a Venturi tube to greatly increase the velocity of the air as it is discharged into the chamber 45 and out of the nozzle 46. As a consequence there is produced in the chamber 45 and the duct 65 which communicates therewith, a very high degree of suction. This suction in turn produces in the receptacle R, when the pinch valve 2| is closed, an extremely high vacuum.

The pressure of air delivered to the duct 55 is controlled by adjustment of the valve 56, but the maximum degree of vacuum produced in the receptacle and the rapidity with which it is formed is determined by a very critical adjustment of the head 42. Such adjustment varies the area of the chamber 45 which in turn controls the velocity of air leaving the nozzle 46, and hence the degree of suction produced in the duct 65.

The maximum inches of vacuum of which the device is capable with a given pressure of air can be easily eiected and determined by adjusting the head 42 while watching the gauge 26. Incident thereto and to fix such adjustment, shims 43 may be added or subtracted until the proper adjustment is attained. Manifestly, the use of shims eliminates machining the head 4| and 42 to extremely small tolerances as would be the case otherwise, and thus the cost of making these parts is reduced to a minimum.

From the aforedescribed operation of the device, itwill be clear that in the operation of the apparatus the device functions to withdraw air from the bottle R through the tube l1, and the pipes 26, 29, and 32 and to discharge it to atmosphere through the nozzle 46. With the pinch valve 2| closed, a vacuum is produced in the bottle to be used for the drawing of liquid thereinto from any container such for example as the crankcase 22. To so do it is only necessary to extend the nozzle 20 into the crankcase through the opening 24 and then open the pinch valve 2|, when the oil will be sucked into the nozzle, then into the pipe 8, and finally into the bottle.

In the commercial embodiment of my apparatus, it is rendered portable to be readily moved from place to place by mounting it on the vehicle V. This vehicle may have the form of a twowheeled truck of the construction shown in Fig. l. As illustrated, the truck comprises a frame made up of aback plate 1|) and a pair of side plates 1| secured to the vertical edges of the back plate and connected at their upper ends by a top plate 12. A U-shaped rail 13 of angle formed cross section is secured to the lower ends of the side plate 1| so as to bridge the latter at the open side of the frame. A flat bar 14 is secured to and extends from the rail 13 to the back plate 1D. The forward end of this bar is bent downwardly to form a foot 15, while the rear end is bent to form a lateral extension 15a which is welded to theback plate 10.

A pair of wheels 11 are mounted on the ends of an axle 18 which extends through the side plates 1| at a point to one side of the vertical center of the frame so that by tilting the iframeV I9 to each other at points dametrically opposed with respect to the vertical portions of the bar 80. The lower ends of the strips 8| are bent laterally to provide supports 82 for the bottom of the bottle, and the upper ends of the strips are extended to provide ears 83 connected by a bail 84.

A handle 85 is secured to one of the vertical portions of the bar 88 and this handle and the bail 8l provide means for manually manipulating the frame F as a whole to insert it into and remove it from the truck frame, as Well as to carry the bottle to any point for emptying. The bottle R as shown within the frame F in Fig. 1 and the frame is held against displacement from the frame by extending the bail 84 to a position in which it engages a hook 86, secured on the back plate 10.

Again referring to Fig. l, the vacuum producing device D, the several pipes I 8, I9, etc., the nozzle 20, and the gauge 28, are all supported on the truck frame, the gauge being fixed to the upper plate 12. Also supported on the truck frame and depending from the plate 12 are spare nozzles 28 of different lengths for use in crank cases of different depths.

From the preceding description it becomes apparent that all parts of my apparatus are supported on the truck frame, and hence it is made portable to be readily moved to a motor vehicle for removing the oil from the crankcase of a vehicle engine or any other purpose for which the apparatus may be used, as previously recited herein.

Since the device D can be operated to produce a vacuum in the receptacle R by the air pressure from a conventional tire inating hose, once a vacuum is formed in the receptacle the hose may be disconnected from the pipe 60 and placed on a plug 81 fixed on the plate 12 and my complete apparatus moved to any point for use, devoid of any trailing pipes, hose, or cords.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction apparatus: a vacuum producing device, including: abody; a. conical head on one end of the body; a first duct axially in the body; a second duct in the body communicatn ing with the first duct and adapted for detachable connection to a source of fluid pressure; a solid valve adjustable in the body for controlling the passage of uid from the second duct through the first duct, to the conical head; a third duct longitudinally in the body and extending to the head end thereof; a fourth duct in the body communicating with the inner end of the third duct; a second head having a port communicating with a conical socket therein receiving the first head, and adjustably mounted on the body axially to vary the distance between the two heads; 'and a source of air pressure connected to the second duct for delivering air under presy 6 sure to the rst duct for discharge into said socket and from the port to atmosphere thereby producing a suction in the fourth and third ducts.

2. In a suction apparatus as embodied in claim 1, wherein the second head is screwthreaded on the body, and shims are interposed between the two for defining the adjustment of the second head on the body.

3. A portable suction apparatus, including: a wheeled vehicle having a vertical frame open at one side thereof; a receptacle; a frame for the receptacle extendable into the open side of the vehicle frame to be supported in the latter; detachably securing the receptacle in said vehicle frame; the receptacle having an opening in its top; a stopper for the opening; inlet and outlet tubes extending through the stopper; a pipe connected to the inlet tube; 4a manually operable valve in the pipe which when closed prevents air entering the receptacle through the inlet tube; vacuum means connectable to the outlet tube for withdrawing air from the receptacle to produce a vacuum therein for drawing fluids into the receptacle through said pipe upon opening of said valve; and a check valve in the outlet tube so that when the rst mentioned valve is closed and said means disconnected from the outlet` tube the vacuum in the receptacle will not be broken by reverse flow of air into the outlet tube 4. A portable suction apparatus for withdrawing liquids from containers, including: a vehicle; a receptacle mounted on the vehicle and having an outlet pipe and an inlet pipeya manually operable valve for closing the inlet pipe; a device detachably connected to the outlet pipe and responsive to fluid pressure for withdrawing air from the receptacle to produce a vacuum therein when said valve is closed; and a one-way check valve in the outlet pipe automatically operable to permit air to be withdrawn from the receptacle by the device, but to prevent ingress of air into the receptacle, whereby once a vacuum is produced in the receptacle, the device can be detached from the outlet pipe and the vacuum in the receptacle used to draw liquid thereinto through an inlet pipe by opening the manually operable valve. v

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,817,016 Monckton Aug. 4, 1931 1,926,399 Nielsen Sept. 12, 1933 1,986,476 Ironside Jan. 1, 1935 1,987,649 Werte Jan. 15, 1935 2,020,350 Bertschinger Nov. 12, 1935 2,124,620 Kirgan July 26, 1938 2,223,553 Davis et al. Dec. 3, 1940 2,536,492 Dunn et al Jan. 2, 1951 

